MERCEDES — Bobby Sparks, board president for the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, may have been short on words Wednesday but was filled with sentiment when describing the significance of a $2.5 million parking lot upgrade planned within the grounds.

“This is a big deal,” he said with gusto.

Such enthusiasm was shared by those in attendance at a ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday, which marked the start of construction for the project and joined together members of the RGVLS Board of Directors and staff, longtime sponsors, City of Mercedes leaders, representatives of the Mercedes Chamber of Commerce and the business community.

For Mayor Henry Hinojosa, the outcome of what will be an endeavor that not only increases parking accommodations at the show grounds to 3,800 vehicles but will also improves drainage and lighting is invaluable.

“It means that more events will be coming in to rent this place for concerts, festivals, you name it,” Hinojosa said. “Of course it’s a win-win situation for us. The stock show brings in 250,000 people every year — that’s people coming into our city, eating and shopping here.”

According to D.J. Wernecke, general manager for the stock show, the show grounds hosts 15 to 20 large events throughout the year, including the South Texas Balloon Festival, benefit dinners, rodeos and the Relay For Life. That number is expected to double once the project makes way for a 26-acre asphalt parking lot, which will also help eliminate the nuisance of inclement weather creating muddy conditions at the venue.

“You still might have to bring an umbrella but you can leave your rubber boots at home,” Sparks said to laughter at Wednesday’s event.

Hinojosa added, “So with more events coming in because now there will be asphalt parking, those people that come to those events will also be coming to our downtown and our outlet mall.”

Wernecke said the project took shape when an advisory committee tasked with identifying improvements to the stock show identified additional parking as a top priority.

“We came up with a solution, and decided to have a five-year plan of how we can pay it off and what we can do,” Wernecke said of the improvements, which the Development Corporation of Mercedes has agreed to grant $300,000 to the cause over five years. “The City of Mercedes has been gracious enough to be partners with us, not just to better the livestock show but to better the city of Mercedes. We’re a partner with them and we want to better the community.”

The $1.6 million in prize money awarded at the 2016 stock show, Wernecke said, goes back to the Valley community in the form of scholarships and benefits. It’s revenue that he believes will increase the more people that attend the stock show.

Still, Wernecke acknowledged that there’s more at stake with the success of upgrading parking accommodations.

“This parking lot is not utilized just for our show,” Wernecke added. “We have different special events throughout the course of the year, and we’re really trying to utilize the facility throughout the whole year. This parking lot is going to accommodate that, and we hope that it will eventually open avenues for other opportunities for us to host events.”

Longhorn Paving was contracted for the construction, which is scheduled for completion by the end of summer, corporation officials said.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY — Low morale and lack of funding continue to be pressing issues for federal agents tasked with protecting the border, according to a recent survey, but local officials are working across the aisle to sway future results.

For the last several years, employee surveys for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol, have reflected low morale and a need for more investment in resources across most agencies, according officials.

“I am disappointed that our efforts to improve employee satisfaction at DHS were not reflected department-wide in this year’s results of the Federal Employee Viewpoint survey,” wrote Secretary Jeh C. Johnson, head of DHS, after the results of the 2015 questionnaire were released in December.

“I am disappointed but not discouraged. We will not give up. We know that improving employee satisfaction across a 22-component, 240,000-person department takes time,” he added.

In the Rio Grande Valley, 54 percent of Border Patrol employees indicated they were satisfied with their job, according to recently released results specifically for this area.

A total of 27 percent of the 160 employees surveyed said they were not satisfied and 18 percent said they were neutral.

Nearly 60 percent of employees in the Laredo sector responded they were satisfied with their job and 45 percent of them said they felt their agency was successful at accomplishing its mission. Nationwide, nearly 50 percent of DHS employees responded they were satisfied with their job and more than 27 percent said they either disagreed or strongly disagreed.

RGV Sector Chief Manuel Padilla said Wednesday he believes the numbers do not reflect an accurate picture of the more than 3,000 employees in his sector because there is a really low response rate to the survey.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Padilla said. “We need to increase the responses to the survey. We had about a 19 percent response rate to those surveys and what I would like to get is a 60 or 70 percent response rate.”

He said they are working with the local union to help them meet their goal in the coming years. Padilla took over as sector chief in January when Kevin Oaks stepped down after 14 months in the position.

Local union president Chris Cabrera said Thursday Padilla is the first chief to approach the union to discuss solutions to the low morale numbers reflected by the annual survey.

“Overall people in the sector love their job,” Cabrera said, later adding, “DHS-wide people are unhappy with their jobs, but that doesn’t mean that the guys hate their jobs. They are just dissatisfied with certain aspects of what we do or don’t do.”

“They see a lot of the crap that comes along with it, with some of these rules and policies that come down from D.C. as far as how to do things or what’s needed. What’s needed is people need to come down here and take a look at what we actually do and how to do it instead of letting the decisions be made from the glass palace up in D.C.”

In the RGV sector, four out of five employees surveyed worked in the field as opposed to working in headquarters. More than half of them, 53 percent, said they did not have sufficient resources, including people, materials and budget, to get their job done.

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BROWNSVILLE — At first, Jose and Yvonne Salas were somewhat concerned that their oldest sons, Tizoc and Phoenix, would not be able to kayak without their help.

Although it was a slow start they started to get the hang of it, with the South Texas Paddlers lifeguard’s help.

The whole family kayaked on the resaca by the Brownsville Events Center for 15 minutes before pulling up to the dock, a little wet from riding by a fountain.

“It was exciting, and we learned a little bit about the resaca’s history,” Yvonne said. “I liked that (the South Texas Paddlers) were doing this here. It’s a beautiful town, and we need more activities like this.”

The Salas family heard about the kayaking through word of mouth. One of their good friends suggested the idea because of how often it does family outings.

Danny Cuevas, the owner of South Texas Paddlers, said this was the second weekend the Paddlers were renting out kayaks to the community at the resaca. From now on, they will have kayaking available every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We want to be able to show people the beauty of South Texas. Before, these resacas used to be crystal clear, and in old photos you could see people skiing on them,” Cuevas said. “Everyone wants to go to San Antonio or Austin for fun, but why would you when it’s right here in your own backyard?”

Gina Galindo and her husband, Mark, kayaked with their two sons, Travis and Taylor.

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HARLINGEN — It’s never good to be involved in a major accident on the expressway.

But if it has to happen, it doesn’t hurt that you’re close to a hospital.

Recently a car flipped over after hitting a concrete barrier on Expressway 77, and slid upside down for several hundred feet before coming to a stop in the grass off of the right shoulder of the expressway — just before the exit for Harlingen Medical Center.

A Harlingen Medical Center anesthesiologist, Dr. Balazs Makai, happened to be on his way into the hospital and stopped to render aid to a young Valley woman who was injured and bleeding from a laceration to her head, inside the vehicle.

Makai — along with other concerned motorists who stopped to help the young woman — was able to care for the young driver until Harlingen Emergency Medical Services arrived.

Makai said despite the severity of the accident, the young woman was able to get out of her vehicle and started to walk around.

He advised her to sit down, away from traffic.

“When something traumatic like this happens, people can become confused — and walk right into traffic, creating continuous danger for themselves and others,” he said.

A woman who also stopped to help was able to comfort the accident victim by staying close to her until EMS arrived — even though this “Good Samaritan’s” clothes become bloodied from the accident victim.

“The fact that that woman and her husband also stopped to help was wonderful, and very comforting to the victim,” Makai said. “People here in the Valley are very compassionate, compared to what I’ve seen in big cities.

“These types of accidents can happen in a spur of a moment — and any of us could be in that situation — where our life would be dependent on our fellow residents, and hopefully including a health care provider who may stop to help.”

At an accident scene, any doctor, nurse or other health care professional may suddenly find themselves thrust into a leadership role, coordinating care of the patient until further help arrives, he noted.

As a physician who assists in many surgery cases at Harlingen Medical, Makai is accustomed to the sight of traumatic injuries and bleeding.

“As health care professionals, we usually don’t panic; we think of what needs to be done next to help the patient,” he said. “That morning I walked into work with my scrubs already bloody. You never stop being a nurse or a doctor — you never stop being a healthcare provider, even after you leave the hospital and step out the door,” he added.

Rene Perez, RN, Licensed Paramedic and Director of Patient Transport Services for the South Texas Emergency Care Foundation, agreed that it’s very helpful when healthcare workers stop at the scene of an accident to render first aid and treatment in the case of life-threatening injuries — or in some cases just to help keep the patient calm — until the EMS can arrive to transport to the victim to the emergency room.

“Community involvement is so important … to have a medical professional like that stop to help is very valuable to the outcome of the patient,” Perez added.

Makai said it was amazing that the woman survived the accident, after her vehicle struck the concrete wall separating the north and southbound lanes at around 65 miles per hour.

The roof of her car was pushed down inside the car, and Dr. Makai believes the woman’s small stature — and the fact that her seatbelt kept her from flying out of the vehicle — is what helped her to survive, in spite of the severe damage to her vehicle.

“This could have been much worse,” he said. “Fortunately, I did not have to open her airway, and I did not have to stop severe bleeding. I didn’t have to do that much, but this does point out the importance of enhanced trauma services in the Valley, with traffic getting worse, and more accidents happening along the expressway.”

“Health care providers play an ultimate role in the life of a community, because you never know when someone will need us,” he added.

BROWNSVILLE — At 9 years old, Joel Trevino has captured the hearts of people across the country after being selected to compete in Telemundo’s nationally televised singing competition, “La Voz Kids.”

A singing sensation from Brownsville, Joel is one of 45 children who have been selected for the show after participating in a blind audition. Singing “No Me Dolio” by La Original Banda El Limon, Joel made a strong impression on all of the show’s three judges, which included famous recording artists Daddy Yankee, Natalia Jimenez and Pedro Fernandez.

“When all three of the show’s judges turned their chairs around to ask Joel to be on their team, you could see a look of shock,” said Ani Tharpe, Joel’s music teacher from Egly Elementary. “They were shocked to hear this big voice and see this little kid. He’s just amazing.”

Joel said he was shocked himself to see all three coaches turn around in their chairs.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “It was like a relief. It was my first time being on TV. It was my first time meeting artists. It was super fun,” Joel said.

Joel chose to work with Pedro Fernandez because his favorite type of music is banda. Fernandez’s award-winning songs are from musical genres that include Latin pop, mariachi, banda and ranchera.

One of the things Joel stated he looks forward to is learning more singing skills. He feels confident that he will — now that he has a Latin Grammy award-wining artist as his mentor.

“Joel started watching ‘La Voz Kids’ on Telemundo when he around 6 years old,” said his mom, Araceli Trevino. “He would constantly ask me to take him to audition for the show for his birthday. I was like, ‘Joel, I could never take you over there’ … and now, here we are.

“I never imagined that he would be doing all of this stuff. It’s happened so quickly. He didn’t take steps, he jumped.”

Joel said he feels nervous and excited about the show’s first Battle Round, which will air at 7 p.m. tonight on Telemundo.

“I know when it gets competitive, it gets harder and harder,” he said. “But I’m proud of myself.”

SAN BENITO — Rosie Guerra’s message about Memorial Day rang true as everyone listened.

“We believe that a man does not die unless he’s forgotten,” said Guerra, whose son, U.S. Army PFC Diego Montoya, died in combat Sept. 2, 2010, in Afghanistan. Several brothers and sisters, as well as other members of the family, wore black shirts with that message yesterday at a Memorial Day ceremony.

The observance, “Shields Second Hogs Hot Rods and Heroes,” was organized by the Shields Law Enforcement and Military Veterans Motorcycle Club. More than 1,000 motorcyclists had gathered for the observance at Mad Boar Harley Davidson at 3515 W. Expressway 77/83.

Motorcyclists from throughout the country, dressed in black leather, camouflage, denim jackets, jeans and other attire gathered around a flag pole. Several onlookers wore green shirts with a picture of the yellow and green South Vietnamese flag and the words “Rest Easy Grandpa.” Everyone watched solemnly as a color guard made up of Harlingen police officers folded an American flag.

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HARLINGEN — The next Trash-Off Day may have added significance due to the Zika virus.

The next community junk day is scheduled for June 11 at Casa de Amistad at 1204 Fair Park Blvd. from 8 to 11 a.m.

The threat of Zika virus transmitted by mosquitoes means people should bring in any used tires that have been sitting outside.

Zika virus causes birth defects in infants, can cause fever and joint pain and has been linked to the paralyzing syndrome called Guillain-Barre.

There is no vaccine or cure.

Esmeralda Guajardo, Cameron County health administrator, said earlier this year it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when Zika becomes widespread in the Rio Grande Valley.

To date, Texas has recorded more than 30 cases of travel-related Zika virus.

The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is common in the Valley. This species of mosquito can be identified by its small size, the white stripes on its legs and its habit of biting during daylight hours.

One of its favorite breeding sites is stagnant water found in old tires piled outdoors.

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HARLINGEN — A traveling display of the Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall is scheduled for this year’s Memorial Day at the Harlingen Veterans Memorial at Pendleton Park beginning at 10 a.m.

Traveling from Houston, the wall memorial has been traveling throughout the state since 2007 in honor and tribute to Fallen Heroes by a Gold Star Father Carson George, whose son was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 18, 2005.

The wall is made up of ceramic tiles with the names and pictures of all of the Texas military men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice since 9-11.

In addition, the only Texas Fallen Hero Tribute bike will also accompany the wall display at the memorial in Harlingen.

The Marine Tribute Bike once belonged to Lance Cpl. Louis W. Qualls, who was killed in Iraq on Nov. 16, 2004.

The 1979 Harley Davidson was customized in tribute to Louis by the well-known Custom Bike shop Stroker’s located in Dallas.

The bike has been featured in industry bike magazines and Gary and Ellen Qualls of Avery have been displaying the bike for years in the northern and central parts of Texas since 2005.

Most recently, due to circumstances, Gary and Ellen presented the bike to the Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial to become a permanent addition to the traveling display.

The bike will make its first trip to the Valley for the first time during the ceremony and all day display at the memorial in Harlingen.

The wall was on display in 2015 at the local Wal-Mart as part of a week tour of the Valley in November which included McAllen, Mission and Weslaco before its display in Harlingen.

The Honor and Remember of Texas organization, which co-sponsors the traveling wall, will also make a presentation to the memorial with a new national symbol and official symbol for the state of Texas with the Honor and Remember flag, which represents the national and state sacrifices made by our military and that of their families.

Then-Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill into law making this new flag the official symbol for Texas which honors the sacrifices made by Texans in all wars and conflicts in our nation’s history.

This new national symbol has been adopted by 24 states to date with another 19 in the process with their respective state legislators.

The public display of the Wall and Tribute Bike will be available for viewing on Monday until 5 p.m.

The public is cordially invited to attend the ceremony and flag-raising, and are encouraged to pay tribute and honor to our state’s Fallen Heroes and our Gold Star families on this national day of remembrance.

Cameras are permitted during the ceremony and all day display of the Wall and the tribute Bike.

Children are invited to this patriotic opportunity to teach them what Freedom is and that theirs has already been paid for by our brave military men and women.

VFW

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2410 Harlingen-San Benito will host a special tribute to the Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans from the local area killed in action or missing.

Organizers are stating, “You are not forgotten.”

All veterans, especially those from Iraq and Afghanistan, are invited and are being asked to wear the colors from units and branch of service.

The presentation will begin at the Post, 2006, Whalen Road, at 3 p.m. to honor all veterans killed in action, missing in action and prisoners of war in all of the wars and conflicts.

Raising and lowering the flag to half staff will be carried out by the Harlingen High School national Champion ROTC Honor Guard and Silent Arm Female Squad. A wreath will be placed in front of the flag and combat cross.

The final presentation will later take place inside the Post. There will be food and a dance later.

SAN BENITO

Events on Memorial Day begin with a solemn, silent March of Veterans at 8:50 a.m. in front of City Hall, 485 N. Sam Houston.

The marchers will receive a police escort down Sam Houston Boulevard to the Veterans War Memorial at 151 E. Rowson, according to event organizer Victor Garza, chairman of the San Benito Veterans Advisory Board.

Upon arrival at the Veterans War Memorial at 9 a.m., a tribute commemorating the sacrifices of U.S. veterans will be conducted. Patriotic songs will be performed during the ceremony.

LAGUNA VISTA

The town of Laguna Vista — known as “Gateway to the Bay” — will once again host its annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony Monday.

The event will serve to honor and recognize military veterans and personnel who have contributed and sacrificed in the defense of America.

The Memorial Day festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with a colorful parade from the Laguna Vista Library located off of FM 510.

The parade will conclude at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Laguna Vista and will feature decorated golf carts and vehicles, as well as other participants.

MERCEDES and LA FERIA

Both cities will each have two events Monday.

American Legion Post 172’s Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 7 a.m. at Mercedes City Hall, 400 S. Ohio.

Mercedes Veterans Memorial will be held at 7 p.m. located on Business 83 and Texas Avenue.

There also will be a groundbreaking ceremony for a future veteran’s memorial at 10 a.m. at La Feria City Hall, 115 E. Commercial Ave.

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the American Legion Post 493 at 11 a.m.

The post is located at 219 Commercial Ave.

When it comes to the Rio Hondo track and field team, Mike Zuniga did it all his senior year.

He led the Valley in the shot put the entire year with a distance of 57-09 and finished the year fourth in discus.

At the District 32-4A meet, Zuniga captured gold in both events. Then at the regional meet, he went on to qualify for the UIL state meet.

In Austin, Zuniga made it two medals in a row at state, winning the bronze after winning silver the year before.

Zuniga also signed on to throw at the University of Texas at San Antonio next year.

For those reasons, Zuniga is a finalist for the Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year award, which will be presented at the All-Valley Sports Award Banquet on June 14 in McAllen.

Q: How does it feel to be nominated for this award?

A: It’s a great honor to be nominated for this award. It is rewarding to see my hard work and dedication to the sport of track and field being recognized. It’s been a pleasure representing the Valley and I’ll sure miss my high school days.

Q: When did you first start training as a shot putter and discus thrower?

A: I began to train in the seventh grade. I was always one of the bigger, stronger kids in the grade, so I knew I could excel at it. It also interested me after watching my sister do it in high school when I was little. She would bring home an award and I would tell my parents, ‘that’s nothing, just wait until I get to do it.’”

Q: What would you say is the hardest part of your sport?

A: The hardest part of my sport is trying to learn and maintain your technique. If you think you know it all and are doing everything correctly, you’re probably wrong. I’ve been at it for six years and I’ve only scratched the surface of what there is to learn.

Q: Do you have any rituals or routines the day of a big meet?

A: On meet days, I would usually pray in the morning, go to school, have a good lunch, sit in the back of the bus to listen to some good thrash metal to get in that aggressive state of mind and then go out and have a good competition.

Q: What has been your favorite athletic memory?

A: My favorite memory would probably be coming back from injury and going on to win a silver medal at the state meet. This particular memory goes to show that anything can be done if you put in the time and effort.

Q: Who is your favorite athlete and why?

A: My favorite athlete would probably have to be Kobe Bryant because he has a great love and dedication for the game, and is one of the most competitive athletes out there and through any injury, he would give it his all to get back out on the court.

Q: Other than sports, what is your favorite hobby?

A: If I’m not playing sports you can usually find me listening to music, hunting and fishing, or drawing.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people may not know.

A: One thing that people may not know about me is that I don’t know how to swim.

Q: Who are your personal heroes and why?

A: My personal heroes would have to be my parents. They have worked so hard to make sure I have everything I need to be successful, and would do absolutely anything for me. I’m so grateful to have them.

Q: Sum up your career at Rio Hondo in a few words.

A: My career at Rio Hondo was a great experience. It was a pleasure competing and being able to do so well for the program, and I just thank everyone who helped me on my journey. Now that I’m a graduate, I ask for the student-athletes of Rio Hondo to strive for greatness and work hard to achieve their goals in sports as well as in the classroom. Rio Hondo will always be my home and I would just like to say, thanks for the memories.

MERCEDES — Laurine Rodriguez has taken her two girls to Obie’s Gym karate school every day for the last three years.

Most people wouldn’t know it but the school is the mother school to the American Kajukenbo Association of Texas.

The school teaches the perfected art for street fighting.

“It’s an awesome school,” Rodriguez said. “We’re doing it for self-defense because we have girls.”

Rodriguez said over the three years of karate training, her girls have grown tremendously, learned to give respect and can take care of themselves if they need to use their martial arts training.

In the 1960s Kajukenbo was brought to the United States mainland by Professor Charles Gaylord. His training became known as the Gaylord Method of Kajukenbo.

Gaylord was a student of Adriano Emperado, one of five black belts who formed the legendary Black Belt Society that created Kajukenbo.

Kajukenbo is the first marital arts system to originate in America. It was developed in 1947 in Hawaii.

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